Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

It may be hard to believe, but Stuart Holden and Bolton are currently sitting in fifth place in the English Premier League, and could move into with a win against Blackpool today.

Bolton currently sit ahead of the likes of Tottenham (on goal differential) and Liverpool, and are doing so playing attractive soccer. Holden has become a key figure in the Wanderers attack as they look to stay ahead of Tottenham for fifth, and put pressure on Manchester City for fourth place.

Holden is one of several U.S. national team players in action. Clint Dempsey will look to help Fulham move further away from the relegation zone with a win against Birmingham City, while Tim Howard and Everton take on West Brom.

The biggest match involving an American team will take place at Toyota Park today, where the U.S. women's national team takes on Italy in the second leg of their World Cup playoff series. The Americans can clinch a World Cup berth with a win or a tie after beating the Italians on the road.

Wondering why Soccer Saturday was posted at 3:30am this morning? The Los Angeles Galaxy take on the Australian side Newcastle Jets in an exhibition in Australia airing live on Fox Soccer Channel at 3:30am.

If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

why do Arsenal persist in pushing so many players up the park when they have a lead??!? it’s so obvious that constantly seeking another goal opens you up on defense. keep numbers behind the ball, Arsene!

I know right? He killed their build-up a few times and definitely ruined a pretty good goal scoring opportunity with an awful through ball. Where did you see that price quote? He has looked terrible in the games I have been able to watch this year.

argh. I never knew how much Fulham needed a true target man. So I guess they were right about Zamora. Pretty much their best striker since McBride. Hope Fulham can hold fast and get a least a few more pts til he returns. They’re in relegation zone. If all goes to heck, it’s good to know Dempsey will be safe.

Damn Berbatov. He had a hat trick against my REDs like 2 months ago and has been quiet until today. You know I’d start him and Hernandez and bring Rooney as a super-sub with say 35mins a game. But that wouldn’t work of course cause he’s Rooney. anyway

PS – People who don’t watch high level women’s soccer are missing out on a highly techincal, tactically astute version of the game. I’ve coached both high level girl’s and boy’s soccer, and what I love about the girl’s game is that they have to play the game right, whereas boys try to over power everything. Both games are fun, but the women’s game maybe a “purer” form.

This may be very true, but you can’t be talking about our WNT. They have played like tactical neophytes from the first time Anson Dorrence coached and all they had to do was overrun the other team’s midfielders with players like Michelle Akers, who was off the charts athletically. Twenty years later, they still have no ideas when it comes to breaking down a tactically sound midfield and defense.

Both goals today weren’t scored on the break so how do you figure we were open in the back?

First goal was down to poor marking because Clichy had to choose between picking up the man with the ball and watching young on the wing, while the two center-halfs didn’t close down in time, granted the goal shouldn’t have counted anyway. The second goal was scored from a corner kick.

I beg to differ. How many Arsenal games have you seen? How many times have they dropped points by failing to hold second half leads? Yes, the 2 goals today were not on the counterattack. But Villa did generate plenty of chances because Arsenal were pushing too many men forward, as usual.

Believe me I appreciate how the Gunners play, but I also think with the way they pass and possess the ball, they should be able to close out games more effectively.